Disbelief from military figures after Rishi Sunak returned from Normandy before all of the D-Day events had finished to do General Election interview recording with ITV News

Military figures were then left in disbelief Rishi Sunak returned from Normandy before all the D-Day events had concluded to record a general election interview with ITV News.

The Prime Minister also attended previous commemorations in Ver-sur-Mer in Normandy King Charles And Queen Camillebut left before the key ceremony on Omaha Beach.

Instead of, Keir Starmer was depicted in conversation with the Ukrainian hero Volodymyr Zelenskyy while David Cameron And Grant Shapps represented the Conservative Party.

The commemorative event above one of the beaches stormed by Allied forces 80 years ago was also attended by the Prince of Wales, US President Joe Biden and the French president Emmanuel Macron.

It was revealed on ITV News at Ten that Sunak’s team were the ones who chose the time and date of the interview – despite the program not being broadcast until next Wednesday.

The broadcaster’s British editor, Paul Brand, said: ‘We’ve been asking the Prime Minister for an interview for some time – we’re profiling all the leaders on the ITV Tonight programme.

Rishi Sunak lays a wreath during a commemoration ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the Allied D-Day landings in Normandy during World War II

Keir Starmer was pictured talking to world leaders including Volodymyr Zelenskyy

David Cameron and Grant Shapps instead represented the Conservative Party alongside world leaders. Pictured: Cameron next to French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and US President Joe Biden

“Today was the slot we were offered, we don’t know why. It’s clearly not our choice.

“But he certainly returned from Normandy ready to dive back into the campaign.”

Political austerity and pressure had largely been put on hold as the 80th anniversary of D-Day took center stage and Mr Sunak appeared at several commemorative events in his capacity as Prime Minister.

Tory sources had played down the diplomatic impact of the prime minister’s absence in Normandy later on Thursday, pointing out that he will meet other G7 leaders at a summit in Italy next week.

Mr Sunak had used his interview with Mr Brand to dismiss Labour’s accusations that he “lied” by saying the party would increase taxes by £2,000 – claims later criticized by Britain’s statistics watchdog.

But former British army officer Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon criticized the Prime Minister, telling the newspaper Mirror: ‘It’s a big disappointment. What’s more important than respecting the people who gave their lives for this country?’

And Colonel Richard Kemp, a former British army commander in Afghanistan, added: ‘I know there is a general election campaign to be had, but this is a very important anniversary of a great military achievement that led to freedom in Europe.

“It is attended by a number of veterans who may never attend again because of their age. I think it was very important that he showed his commitment to that. It’s not dignified, it’s not the right thing to do at a fundamental level.”

Rishi Sunak (L) meets a British D-Day veteran during the British Ministry of Defense and Royal British Legion commemoration ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day

Rishi Sunak accompanies D-Day veteran Bernard Morgan, 100, from Crewe, as they have lunch today

Akshata Murty, wife of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, talks to D-Day veteran Christian Lamb, who previously received the Legion d’Honneur

Tim Montgomerie, the founder of Conservative Home and the Conservative Christian Fellowship, added fuel to the fire when he said he was “genuinely and completely baffled by the decision.”

He told BBC Newsnight: ‘For him to come back for an interview – a political interview – after the D-Day commemorations is indefensible. Absolutely indefensible.

He continued: ‘It is extraordinary that the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, at a time when the King, who has promoted his medical treatments so that he could be there, will be the last major commemoration at which survivors will be present.

‘I think it would be political malpractice of the highest order for Rishi Sunak to be absent for an election interview ITV.’

Earlier in the day, Mr Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron joined King Charles in a moving silent prayer to remember those who are no longer with us, while memories of those who were on the beaches 80 years ago were also read out .

Charles joined the Prime Minister and military leaders in laying poppy wreaths at the monument as Elgar’s Nimrod was performed by a brass band in the background, while the national anthems of France and the United Kingdom were also played as the Red Arrows roared overhead.

Mr Sunak paid tribute to the veterans, saying their ‘actions have liberated a continent and built a better world’.

“You risked everything and we owe you everything,” he said. “We cannot possibly hope to repay that debt, but we can and must promise that we will never forget it.”

Labor has now accused Mr Sunak of a ‘dereliction of duty’ for missing the ceremony.

Shadow Paymaster General Jonathan Ashworth said: ‘For the Prime Minister to skip the D-Day commemorations early to record a television interview in which he once again lied through his teeth is both a disgrace and a total dereliction of duty.

‘Our country deserves so much better than desperate, desperate Rishi Sunak and his chaotic Tory party.’

Rishi Sunak has been contacted for comment.